Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-07-22
DEATH WAS NEAR TO HIM,
President Cleveland in Danger-The
Engine of His Excursion Train
Wrecked.
The Lives of the Presidential Party
Saved by the Heroic Engineer.
Who Loses His Own Life
No One Else Hurt.

The presidential excursion train met
with an accident on its return from Clay
ton to Alder Creek on the Rome, Water
town d Ogdensburg railway. The train
consisted of q parlOr car drawn by engine
| No. ~, VIM. Reilly engineer, and John
Perrigue fireman. Supt. Henry ". Ham
mond was in charge of the coach which
! covered the run of II miles between Car
thage and Lowyille in 30 minutes, and at
l0:15 p. M, when the accident occurred.
was still going at that rate. Lowville
had been left just seven miles behind
when the guests IN the car heard several
sharp toots from the whistle and q sound
as if some one had thrown handful of
gravel against the side of the car. Nj.
Hammond rushed to the door and met
| Perrigue his face covered with blood
from scalp wound and clothes wet
through. The superintendent i'm mediate
ly pulled the brake cord, but it was found
that the brakes were set. Opening the
door of the coach a cloud Of binding
steam rushed in making an exit from that
door impossible.
BRAVE ENGINEER.
1t was then discovered, and noS till then
by the excursionists that there had been
an accident. 1t seems that while Reilly
had his hand on the whistle to blow for
STILES crossing the connecting bar to the
forward driver on the right hand side of
the engine broke and the huge piece of
steel revolved through the air with terri
BILE velocity.
1t struck the ties first and hearing it
Reilly evidently OWNED what had occur
red, for with one hand he blew the danger
signal and with the other set the brakes.
Then he was thrown violently to the op-
posits side of the cab and on top of his
fireman, and grabbing him around the
body forced him on top of the tender. The
bar meanwhile was doing fearful execu-
tion on one side of the cab aud with the
ties and ground over which the engine
was still rushing, the valves not having
been closed.
huge cash was made in the boiler and
the steam escaped in volumes. As Reilly
grasped Perrigue and lifted him onto
the tender, he either jumped or fell from
the gangway Of the engine. After col
lecting himself with a brave effort and
noticing that though the brakes were OF
and the train was still running Perrigue
fastened back in the cab in the midst of
the sitting steam and closed the throttle
The train then soon came to a standstiu.
The presidential party bore the short de-
lay necessitated patiently.
Mrs. Cleveland asked if Manager Brit
toms engineer was hurt, and being in
formed that it was thought not, she ex-
pressed relief, at the same time earnestly
hoping that REILLY was not hurt. The
train was delayed three-Guarters of an
hour. The trainmen and Supt. Hammond
were commended on all sides for their
coolEess and promptness.
TOOK IT CALMLY.
The president took the mstter very
calmly and said he thought there was
something serious the matter as he saw
the clouds of steam. The express arriv-
cd at the scene, the presidents coach was
transferred to it and the disabled locomo-
tive left at Glendale, which was but a
short distance south. The train was
then run back until the men sent back
from the accident were met. They re-
ported finding the body of Engineer
Reilly on the left hand side of the track.
He was dead. Instructions were giver
to care for the body and the train pro-
ceeded to Alder Creek. 1t was then after
midnight.
The dead engineer was 81 years of age
and resided at Carthage. This was his
first trip in two weeks, he having been
Ill. He had been employed on the road
nearly all his life and was accounted
among the best engineers in the state
He leaves wife and two children. Per
rlgue, the brave fireman, resides in Sack
ett's Harbor.
Miss Rose Cleveland and niece, the
Misses Hastings and her guest, Miss
Hamlln, left the train at Holland Patent
and Secretary Fairchild and wife and Mr.
and Mrs. Yeomans came on to Utica,
the train arriving here at lis A. NJ. The
president will attend church al Forestport
Sunday, when his brother will officiate